Electrifying conductor, brilliant composer, gifted pianist, inspiring teacher: Leonard Bernstein is one of the most famous and influential musicians of all time. Highlights of this two-disc sampling of the Maestro’s legendary recordings for Deutsche Grammophon include his incandescent interpretations of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Mahler, composers for whom he felt a profound affinity. And Bernstein’s lifelong dedication to American music is vividly illustrated with Gershwin, Barber and, of course, his own iconic West Side Story. 
This album offers a perfect introduction to Bernstein as conductor. Highlighting some of classical music’s most beloved works and tracks: from Elgar’s "Nimrod" to Mahler’s Adagietto from Symphony No.5, from Barber’s Adagio for Strings to Beethoven finale of the "Choral" Symphony No. 9, from Gerswhin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" to Dvorak’s "From the New World". Enjoy the charismatic music making of Bernstein at its best!

Tracklist:

CD 1 
1. BERNSTEIN Candide: Overture 
London Symphony Orchestra 
 
BERNSTEIN West Side story 
2. Symphonic Dances: Finale 
Los Angeles Philharmonic 
3. Maria 
José Carreras tenor & Orchestra 
4. Somewhere 
Marilyn Horne mezzo-soprano & Orchestra 
 
ELGAR Enigma Variations op. 46 
5. Theme (Enigma) 
6. Var. 9 (Nimrod) 
BBC Symphony Orchestra 
 
7. BARRBER Adagio for Strings 
8. GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue 
Leonard Bernstein piano 
Los Angeles Philharmonic 
 
9. MAHLER Symphony No. 5: Adagietto 
Wiener Philharmoniker 
 
MAHLER Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" 
10. Urlicht. Sehr feierlich, aber schlicht— "0 Röschen rot!" 
11. Mit Aufschwung, aber nicht eilen - "0 Schmerz! Du Alldurchdringer" 
Barbara Hendricks soprano • Christa Ludwig alto 
The Westminster Choir • New York Philharmonic 

CD 2 
 
1. HAYDN Symphony No. 88: Finale. Allegro con spirito Hob. I:88/4 
2. MOZART Clarinet Concerto: Adagio K 622/2 
Peter Schmidl clarinet 
3. MOZART Symphony No. 35 "Haffner": Finale. Presto K 385/4 
4. BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral": 
Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute op. 68/3 
5. SCHUMANN Cello Concerto: Langsam op. 129/2 
Mischa Maiksy cello 
6. SCHUMANN Symphony No. 1 "Spring": Scherzo. Molto vivace op. 38/3 
Wiener Philharmoniker 
7. TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique": Adagio — Allegro non troppo op. 74/1 
New York Philharmonic 
8. DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9 "From the New World": Scherzo. Molto vivace op. 95/3 
9. DVOŘÁK Slavonic Dance No. 8 op. 46 
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra 
10. ELGAR Pomp and Circumstance: March op. 39/1 
BBC Symphony Orchestra 
11. BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 "Choral": Allegro energico e ben marcato op. 125/4f 
"Seid umschlungen Millionen" / "Freude schöner Götterfunken" 
June Anderson soprano • Sarah Walker mezzo-soprano • Klaus König tenor• Jan-Hendrik Rootering bass 
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks • Rundfunkchor Berlin • Philharmonischer Kinderchor   Dresden 
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks • Staatskapelle Dresden • Orchestra of the Kirov Theatre 
London Symphony Orchestra • New York Philharmonic • Orchestre de Paris 
 
LEONARD BERNSTEIN conductor